Hoi An Ancient Town (World Cultural Heritage)

Hoi An is an old town down the Thu Bon
River, on the coastal plain of Quang Nam Province, about 30 km south of
Danang City. Hoi An used to be known on the international market with
many different names such as Lam Ap, Faifo, Hoai Pho and Hoi An.

What is so special about Hoi An is that this little
port town is in an incredible state of preservation. It offers some of
the most densely-concentrated sights in Vietnam with its old streets
bordered with ancient houses and assembly halls, its pagodas, temples,
ancient wells and tombs. In total, more than a thousand places of
interest. The architecture of Hoi An is characterised by a harmonious
blend of Vietnamese, Chinese and Japanese influences. After many
centuries, Hoi An is still respectful of its traditions, folk festivals,
beliefs and of its sophisticated culinary art. Set in a quiet
environment, Hoi An is surrounded by peaceful villages that have crafts
such as carpentry, bronze making, ceramic ...

Researchers said most of the buildings in Hoi An
underwent restoration at the beginning of the 19th century, even if they
might be constructed long time ago. The ancient architecture shown most
clearly in the Ancient Town that located in Minh An Ward. It covers
about 2 square kilometres and almost of all famous relics in Hoi An are
gathered here. The streets are very short and narrow, having a winding,
crossing as the chessboard style. The topography of the ancient town
tilt gradually from north to south. The buildings in the old town is
built mostly with traditional materials such as: brick, wood and no more
than two floors. The traces of time is able to find not only on the
architectural design of each building but also everywhere like: on the
yin-yang roof tiles covered with moss and plants; the old gray mold
walls; the pictures carved on a strange animal, or describing a old
story… Having inherited a multi-cultural architecture so varied and
sophisticated, Hoi An must have attracted numerous and talented workers
in carpentry, ceramics, and woodcarving from China, Japan and other
regions of Vietnam.

For centuries, Hoi An had developed into a melting
pot of various nationalities who came to the area, bringing along their
own cultures. Accordingly, Hoi An features the co-existence of
indigenous customs and habits and those imported by foreign settlers.

There are animist cults, of the Genie-Whale and
worship of deities of natural phenomena (such as rain, wind, thunder),
but also the worship of Holy Protectors like Thien Hau, Quan Cong, Bao
Sinh Dai De, Avalokitesvara, especially among the Chinese community.
They hold regular festivals or cultural and religious activities on the
occasion of Tet Nguyen Tieu (the 16th day of the 1st lunar month), Thanh
Minh (3rd lunar month), Doan Ngo (the 5th day of the 5th lunar month),
Trung Thu (the 15th day of the 8th lunar month), Trung Cuu (the 9th day
of the 9th lunar month), and Ha Nguyen (the 15th day of the 10th lunar
month).

The social and cultural diversity adds up to the uniqueness of Hoi An’s inhabitants.

Rich in traditions and early exposed to the outside
world, the Hoi An people feature a unique cultural identity, which has
been well preserved from generation to generation. Lives of people who
stay here incline to be interior with subtle quiet. In the mind of the
natives of Hoi An, this town constitutes a large ancient home that
shelters a big family of many descendants including hospitable dwellers,
friendly hosts and hostesses, kind-hearted women, obedient children and
so on. They together form a harmonious community who has lived
peacefully side by side through successive generations.

Upon reaching Hoi An, visitors will immediately feel
the hospitality and friendship the locals extend to them. One thing that
has withstood the test of time, one thing that the Hoi An people today
can be proud of and therefore, make every efforts to preserve is their
popular ho (chants) and age-old cultural festivals. Among them, the
"Nights of Hoi An" is held on the 14th night of every lunar month.
Visitors can immerse themselves in a festive atmosphere imbued with the
traditional identities of Hoi An.

The architectural significance of Hoi An has been
recognized by UNESCO, during the 23rd Congress which took place in
Marrakech (Morocco) from the 29th of November to the 4th of December
2009, since the town was officially listed as a World Cultural Heritage
Site.